Combined hinge and handle.



E.. F. HULBERT. COMBINED HINGE ANDv HANDLE. APPLIOATION FILED DB0. za, 1909.

966,020. A Patented Aug.2, 1910.

Umransrarss rarsNr armes.

EDWIN r. HULBERT, or sOUrH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED HINGE AND HANDLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. HULBERT, citizen of the United States, residing at South Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Hinges and Handles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in receptacles or display cases that are provided with swinging lids or closures so arranged that they are turned aside in order to obtain access to the Contents of the case, and relates particularly to a novel construction and arrangement of the hinge connection between the body portion of the receptacle or display case and the lid thereof, the present invention being designed especially for embodiment in display cases for containing oysters in bulk, for use by a dealer in serving his customers, although it is to be understood that the invention is applicable for other uses generally.

The primary object of my invention is a hinge which will effectually protect the lid or cover from becoming broken by being accidentally dropped against the rim of the opening which it is designed to close, provision being made whereby the lid must be raised first before swingingv it to one side or the oth er, and must be brought back to a position directly over the opening before it can be again dropped, a gasket being preferably provided around the margin of the opening, and the lid being adapted to rest in its closed position on the gasket, the lid being preferably constructed of plate glass to add to the attractiveness of the case or receptacle.

The invention also has for its object, an improved construction of hinge of this character the parts of which are capable of being easily manufactured and readily assembled and which will be attractive in appearance as well as durable and which will embody in the one structure a combination of hinge proper and handle, the handle forming a component part of the hinge and serving as a brace therefor in addition to its function as a hand grip.

lith these and other objects-in .view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combina- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

serial No. 535,443.

tions of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full -understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a receptacle embodying the improvements of my invention: Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, a portion of the lid being broken away; and, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the receptacle, the hinge being shown partly in side elevation and partly in section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

In the present embodiment of my invention, referring now to the drawing, the numeral l designates the top of a case for oysters or other commodities, the same being provided with a preferably centrally dis- 'posed opening 2 by which access may be had to the contents of the case, the said opening being defined by a depressed rim 3 preferably formed in its upper face with an annular groove 4 to receive a ring or gasket 5, the groove being preferably spaced from the main portion of the top as clearly illustrated in the drawing.

6 designates the lid of the case, said lid being preferably circular and formed of plate glass which will add to the attractiveness of the case, as well as to the hygienic condition thereof as it may be easily kept clean. The lid 6 is secured by screws or similar fastening devices to a hinge member 7, which is preferably formed integral at one end with a vertically disposed sleeve 8. The hinge member 7 extends perpendicularly from the sleeve 8 in a plane at right angles to the aXis of the sleeve, and said sleeve is adapted to `move vertically as well as turn laterally upon a post 9 which rises from the top l. The vertical post may be secured to the top in any desired way as, for instance, by being slipped through an opening formed in the top so as to restl upon an annular flange 10, the post being threaded below the flange and slipped through a block 1l located at the underside of the top l, a lock nut 12 screwing on the lower extremity of the post to secure the same in place. A cap 13 is screwed or Otherwise secured on the upper end of the post 9, so as to prevent the accidental detachment of the hinge member 7 and to limit the up and down movement thereof. The post 9 is formed with a later'- ally extending pin or projection 14, and the sleeve S is formed in its lower edge with an upwardly extending recess l5 which in the present instance is of such a depth that when the sleeve is at the lower limit of its movement with the pin at the upper end of the recess, the lower edge of the sleeve will be clear of the base or annular flange l0 of the post and the hinge member 7 will be held in a relatively suspended position on the post.

It is to be particularly noted that the pin la and recess l5 are so positioned relative to the lid and the leaf of the hinge member 7 that the pin will register with the recess only when the lid 6 is directly over the opening 2 and the gasket surrounding the same. Hence, only at this position can the lid be lowered, and in order to raise the lid, it is necessary to slip the sleeve 8 upwardly on the post 9 so as to disengage the pin la from the recess l5 whereupon the hinge member with the lid attached to it can be easily turned to one side or the other, the lower edge of the sleeve 8 resting upon the pin. Preferably there is some slight play in the upward movement of the hinge member, that is, the sleeve is not quite as high as the distance between the pin let and cap 13, so that the recess may be easily slipped away from the pin in the upward movement of theV hinge member and lid.

in order to provide a hand-grip for the lid, and at the same time, a brace for the hinge member, the latter is connected to the sleeve by a bar 1G which extends from a point near the outer extremity of the lid attaching leaf of the hinge member to the sleeve at the upper end of the latter, being connected only at its end to those parts whereby an opening below it will be formed through which the operators fingers may easily pass.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of my improved hinge will be apparent.

ln the practical use of the device, it being presumed that the lid is down upon the gasket 5, in order to move the lid to an open position away from the opening 2, it is only necessary to grasp the brace bar 1G as a handle and to raise the lid upwardly so as to disengage the pin la from the recess l5 whereupon the lid may be easily swung around either to the right or to the left to an open position with the lower edge of the sleeve resting upon the pin while the case or receptacle receives its contents, or while the same are being removed. As it is impossible eeepeo" to lower the lid except when it is directly over the opening 2 and the gasket 5 which surrounds the opening, it is obvious that the lid can not be dropped upon the top l, but can only be lowered when it is directly over the opening 2. Hence all liability of shattering' or otherwise injuring the lid by accidentally dropping it upon the top l which is preferably constructed of sheet metal, is elfectually precluded.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A hinge comprising a hinge post, a hinge member, a sleeve connected to one end of the hinge member', the hinge member projecting perpendicularly from the sleeve and lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of the sleeve, the sleeve being mounted to turn and slide longitudinally on said post, a brace bar connected to the hinge member near the outer end thereof, and also connected to the sleeve above the point of connection of the sleeve with the hinge member and providing below the bar, an opening for the insertion of ones fingers, whereby the bar will serve not only as a brace, but as a handle.

As a new article of manufacture, a hinge comprising a hinge post provided with an annular' base flange, said post being provided above said flange with a projection and at its upper end with a detachable cap, a sleeve adapted to be slipped over the post upon the removal of the cap and mounted for a turning and a longitudinally sliding movement thereon, the sleeve being provided with a recess in its lower edge adapted to accommodate said projection and a hinge member secured to and projecting perpendicularly from the sleeve, for the purpose specified.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a hinge comprising a hinge post provided with an annular base flange and a threaded portion at one side of the flange, the post being provided at the other side of said flange with a pin and at its end adjacent said pin with a detachable cap, a hinge member provided with a sleeve adapted to be slipped over the last named end of the post and mounted for a turning and a longitudinally sliding movement thereon, the sleeve being provided with a recess adapted to accommodate said pin, and a web connecting the hinge member to the sleeve as and for the purpose specified.

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDVIN F. HULBERT.

lVitnesses F. H. NEWMAN, PAUL FINDLAY. 

